In northeast, Florida we all talk about "Mayport" shrimp. Mayport is a coastal village north of St. Augustine and east of Jacksonville on the St. Johns River right where it meets with the Atlantic Ocean. That makes getting out to the ocean and to the shrimp a breeze. It is home to about 20 of the state's shrimping boats. However, St. Augustine is located on the Intracoastal (called "the river" by the locals) at the St. Augustine inlet. In fact, I believe you can get to the Atlantic faster from St. Augustine.

The difference between Mayport and St. Augustine shrimp---the port the shrimp boat comes into to unload the shrimp. All the shrimp boats in the area troll off the coast, so they are covering the same area. They are a lovely sight to see off the coast along A1A from Jacksonville to Ponte Vedra Beach to S. Ponte Vedra Beach to North Beach to Vilano Beach to St. Augustine Beach to Crescent Beach---you get the idea. It seems that all the shrimp caught in the area are called "Mayport" shrimp. Your comments and insight into this debate are appreciated.

So, if you want really fresh shrimp, eat locally caught shrimp while vacationing in northeast Florida. Four types of shrimp live in the waters off the coast here: brown, white, pink and rock shrimp. Brown and white shrimp make up the majority of what is caught here. Those of us that are fortunate to live here, enjoy fresh seafood year round.

Here's a photo I took recently of a shrimp boat heading out to the Atlantic in the early morning. It came into the St. Augustine inlet when the surf and wind were rough.

Barbara Jennesstakes joy in assisting people in buying or selling their home or land in northeast Florida (St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra, and Jacksonville). She is a community activist and leader serving as President of Friends of A1A 2008-2010, Past President of Scenic & Historic A1A in St. Johns County for over 10 years, and past vice-president of Vilano Beach Main Street (North Shores Improvement Association). She is a past president for WCR in St. Augustine and a member of South Ponte Vedra Civic Association, Porpoise Point,Serenata Beach Club, and Palencia. She founded and is a Past President of the St. Augustine Regional Council (StAR Council)to promote the St. Augustine area to individuals outside the region.

Awards: REALTOR of the Year, Businesswoman of the Year, SPIRIT Award Passion, Five-Star Best in Client Satisfaction-7 Years Winner